Great Vegi Land
Hours
We don't have any info on this entry's hours. Please add them if you know.
$$ - average
Chinese
All vegan Buddhist restaurant
Great Vegi Land offers a long menu of mock meat, tofu, and vegetable-based dishes. The menu items are not described, so you may want to ask the server for clarification before ordering.
Added by Suzanne on Jul 17 05 (updated Nov 24 08)
Reviews
Very well-lit interior with offbeat painting scheme, bright summer-colored walls in several surprising shades. It would be hard to be somber in here if you tried. Not romantic because of the loudness of the colors and the high light level, but certainly very clean and well put-together looking place. Charming natural wood chairs that don't go well at all with the rest of the decor. Recently remodeled according to the owner and shows it.
Owner/waitress is very friendly and welcoming, happy to chat. Restaurant was not busy so I got plenty of attention. Owner is Taiwanese with Henan ancestry, don't know about the cooking since she has someone else doing it. Cook passed through the dining room and was friendly as well. Presentation of food was above average aesthetically. Brown rice was available, very nice.
Appetizers, shui jiao (dumplings), were quite bland. Had to make my own dip on my plate using soy and pepper sauces already at the table. Main dish, veggie chicken with vegetables, was also quite nondescript, typical veggie meat in unimaginative puddle of light brown goo. Not appealing at all and needed the same hot pepper and soy treatment as the appetizers, sign of mediocre cooking. Vegetables in the dish were cooked really nicely though, crisp yet tender.
The oolong tea was tasty.
The owner was really sweet and a pleasure to talk with. She brought out orange slices for my dessert which was the best part of the meal. I wish I liked the rest of the food more because the environment here was really pleasant, mostly because of the owner's glow which is almost entirely responsible for this restaurant rating over 3. If the food were more appealing this place would be a fine spot for informal get togethers with buddies thanks to the atmosphere.
I eat here at least once a week. Everything on the menu is vegan. I usually get the "daily special", which includes soup, two scoops of brown rice, and a choice of two items from a selection of four items which changes from week to week (sometimes more frequently). The eggplant item is fantastic, and the other items are very good as well. Occasionally they will add an additional appetizer (usually something pickled), or a vegan dessert. Price is $6.95.
The restaurant itself is clean and bright, though a bit "plain". The location is in a small strip mall just off of El Camino. The host is *very* friendly and helpful.
I have taken other people here on several occasions, and everyone has thought it was great. Definitely one of my favorites!